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(Lori)

"Lord Dragon King... Your servant... failed to avenge our people... Ah..."

Leaves withered, and dry branches trembled in the wind. The pale sky and thick layers of fallen leaves depicted the scenery of the place I lived, all too familiar.

On the ground lay a humanoid with lizard-like appearance, scales, and a tail. At first glance, he resembled a Lizardkin, but he wasn't, because he had a pair of bat-like wings on his back.

Half-dragon–[Dragonkin]--- that's what they were called. As a distinctive characteristic, they had the ability to transform into dragons... in other words, their very existence was that of superior dragons.

"... " I watched as the half-dragon gasped for breath amidst the gradually fading whispers. There was a long scar on his chest, and the wound had turned black and necrotic... it looked like a neglected wound, but in reality, it was caused by the strike I had dealt just a few seconds ago.

Considering his dragon form, this guy must have been a higher-ranking [Severed Wing Gale Dragon]. His imposing figure was enveloped by a vibrant bluish-green aura, and the hardness and speed of his scales were exceptional... but in the end, he could only utter his last words before dying from a single slash.

... I felt fear for my inner calmness. Why was I able to take a life so calmly?

But upon closer reflection, he attacked me first, come to think of it, if his attack did manage to land on me, the situation would have been worse, the impure blood within me was enough to destroy this entire forest, and Angi's village would undoubtedly have been affected.

"This Dragonkin should be the mastermind behind the [Goblin] rampage," After saying so, just to make sure, I used [Appraisal] on a certain box-shaped magical item that had fallen from him.

[Box of Demon Blood Feeding]

[A magical item that feeds creatures with its own blood to promote their growth.]

Indeed, the contents were as expected. Opening the box, I found a [Goblin]'s finger inside.

... To think he would use this as a medium to nurture the [Goblins]... no wonder they have become so violent lately.

[Goblins] cultivated with the fresh blood of higher-ranking dragons would undoubtedly become Goblin Kings. The appearance of numerous superior species within the [Goblin] population in the forest was most likely due to this.

... I had planned to go on a trip to procure some sealing materials, and when I returned, I was met with this scene. I was about to handle it when I encountered the dragon. Delayed until now, I couldn't even estimate how many Lizardkin might have been injured or lost.

Now that the puppet master was gone, it was only a matter of eliminating the [Goblins] to ensure the safety of the Lizardkin... I initially intended to take care of it myself, but it seems unnecessary now. After all, I just sensed that two capable individuals are currently sweeping through the [Goblins].

"So, killing was the right thing to do." I tried to convince myself while looking at the corpse, but the discomfort in my heart remained unchanged.

This was the path I took on my way back home from Shupe Village. I didn't expect to encounter a half-dragon here. When my consciousness was taken over before, I had visited an island, and that island was also filled with half-dragons.

As far as I knew, there were no habitats for half-dragons on this continent. Moreover, the fact that he attacked me as soon as he saw me and mentioned "vengeance" made me wonder if I had done something on that island during the time my consciousness was absent. After all, my last impression of the place was that it was saturated with a thick aura of death and corruption.

Could that "something" be the reason for this half-dragon's appearance on this continent and the [Goblin] rampage in the forest? I dared not continue thinking any further.

Even though I knew the methods they had planned, I didn't want to use them unless absolutely necessary.

So, I returned to my small wooden cabin nestled in the mountains. As I approached, I heard voices from inside the house.

"Lori-sama, you're back." A man walked out of the house with a cane, and what I saw was a man slightly taller than me, lean in build, with disheveled brown hair and bandages wrapped around his upper body.

"...White." I uttered his name, ignoring his presence, and entered the house on my own.

I retrieved a large leather backpack from the cupboard and began preparing for my journey.

In a few days, I would need to make a trip to Vanos. My main purpose was to buy medical supplies for Angi and also get some items for the other Shupe Villagers.

This task was usually handled by passing merchants who occasionally came through the village.

However, due to the recent unrest caused by the [Goblins] in the forest, the merchants had stopped visiting. Sending the villagers was not an option either, as they were all submissive demi-humans, and venturing into Vanos, where enslavement was rampant, would only invite trouble. Ultimately, I was the one tasked with running this errand.

I'm glad that this body of mine, while harboring terrifying power, can still do some good, even if it pales in comparison to the "evil" burden I bear.

Sigh... I've actually considered directly entering the Lizardkin tribe to provide assistance, but they're so terrified of me that they grab their weapons and charge at the slightest approach. They've used all sorts of self-sacrificial magic...

Well, at least I'm only seen as something akin to a dark forest deity summoned by them, not the prime suspect in the [Goblin] rampage.

"Um... Lori-sama?" White had somehow come over to my side.

"... " I remembered that I had left the water flask...

"If you're looking for the water flask, it's right here." White extended the water flask toward me with his bandaged hand.

Now, I couldn't continue ignoring him.

"How are your injuries?" I asked.

When I found him two months ago, he was covered in wounds, lying in the marshy woods, being consumed by colorful leeches... If I had left him in that condition, he would have surely died. So, I brought him back to my cabin and provided basic care with some simple medicines.

He didn't wake up until over a month ago. During that time, I experienced another [Swap]... Fortunately, this time my consciousness quickly came back, so aside from cutting down a swath of trees and a single [Horned Bear], I didn't cause too much harm.

However, that... the protective barrier item I brought out from the [Water Labyrinth] didn't really do much before it was destroyed... It seems that the barrier wasn't very effective; it still couldn't contain me.

"It's getting a little better," White said.

"Good, hurry and recover fully so you can go back home," I replied casually.

Having this person continue to stay here, I don't know when he might end up dead at my hands. It's manageable while I'm still conscious, but if my consciousness is taken over...

Crackle! Thud!

The two bandage-wrapped balls floating by my side reacted to my words and flew over to White, emitting those sounds towards me.

"No, we can't keep him as a pet." I rejected the plea of Little Skelle and Little Skull.

White shook his head with a wry smile and turned to the fireplace, starting to add firewood.

"... Even if I'm going back home, there's no one waiting for me there." Those words brushed past my ears, causing my hands, busy packing my bag, to pause for a moment.

However, no one said another word.